Israel preparing public for war

December 23, 2007 10:00am

Israel’s Home Front Command is preparing the public for possible war scenarios.

The Home Front Command on Sunday launched a public information campaign, during which every Israeli household will receive a manual titled “Being Protected and Prepared.” The manual, which is available in several languages, instructs the public on subjects such as the type of rockets that might be fired at Israel during a future war and where to seek shelter.

Home Front Command personnel have also been collecting the gas masks issued to the public during the 2003 Gulf war, with a view to issuing new and more advanced kits in the near future.

Despite recent tensions with Syria and Iran, Israeli officials have denied that the Home Front Command’s actions have anything to do with concerns that a conflict could be imminent. They say the state is implementing one of the lessons of last year’s Lebanon war, when many residents of northern Israel were caught unprepared for Hezbollah rocket salvoes.